Regional Overview on Maternal and Child Nutrition and Examples of Nutrition Governance and Policy Responses: Europe, Central Asia and Eastern Mediterranean Regions

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean Regions and Europe and Central Asia Regions are facing an epidemiological and nutrition transition, especially among vulnerable groups including mothers, children and adolescents. This has led to a double burden of malnutrition (DBM). Poor infant and young child feeding (IYCF), poor dietary diversity, excessive consumption of energy dense unhealthy foods, a growing obesogenic environment for children, including aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods for children, and reduced physical activity are among the main causes. In addition, several countries in the region lack the nutrition governance capacity to respond effectively to the DBM. This article reviews the context and provides a set of conclusions in which countries are called to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods for children, enforce the fortification of staple foods with micronutrients to reduce micronutrient deficiencies and improve IYCF, including breastfeeding in the region. Also, the call is strong for cross-border multi-sectoral efforts to address the DBM in these regions.

Keywords: Children; Double burden; Governance; Malnutrition; Maternal.